View report page

- 46-
(2) Power to require the provision of reasonable and
sufficient facilities and. amenities to permit of a decent standard
of living, these include water supply, washing arrangements, drainage,
water closets, food storage, preparation and cooking, sinks and
disposal of waste water, lighting, ventilation and space heating.
(3) Provision of means of escape in case of fire.
(4) Power to carry out work in default and recover the cost.
(5) Power for Local Authority to make a "direction" fixing
the number of persons who may occupy a house, to prevent overoccupation.
It is the desire of the Minister that the provisions of this
Act should be applied in a reasonable manner and Management Orders
only made in regard to particularly difficult properties. To date,
no Management Orders have been made in Chelsea, but improvements have
in many cases been carried out on the informal approach of the Public
Health Inspector, in other cases the number of occupiers have been
reduced. However it is probable that more formal action will have to
be taken in the ensuing years.
There are two significant defects in the new Act, the first
is the cumbersome administrative procedure which is especially
complicated in connection with the enforcement of the requirements
of section 16 with regard to fire escape. There is hope of some
simplification in the near future. The second defect concerns work
required by notice. As there is no provision for penalties for noncompliance,
work must be carried out in default, and the cost can only
be recovered by way of civil debt from the person on whom the notice is
served. In previous Acts it was a charge against the property. Should
major works be involved (or even a large number of minor works) and the
respective persons served with notices prove financially unsound there
is a serious possibility of a Local Authority being involved in heavy
financial loss. No doubt practice will highlight this defect and
possibly bring about the necessary amendment.
UNDERGROUND ROOMS
The invitation from the Ministry of Housing and Local Government
to revise the existing regulations on the basis of the revised model
regulations issued by the Ministry has not yet been accepted, the
existing regulations continuing to be administered in a reasonable
manner with careful consideration given to premises which are within
reasonable distance of compliance.
The present policy in Chelsea is to deal with all unoccupied
basements if possible before they are let or relet as dwelling
accommodation, many such premises come to the notice of the Public
Health Inspectors on receipt of copies of Town Planning applications.
Site meetings follow and where possible the underground rooms are made
to comply with the requirements, or are put to alternative use. Very